Looks like a caravel, possibly a replica of Columbus' Nina or Pinta, but not the Santa Maria.

Giulietta

06-16-2007 01:17 PM

Please allow me a small correction, the Caravela (a Portuguese invention, sailboat of the 1440's that could actually point into the wind) had triangular sails, known as Vela Latina, (the mother of the Genoa and jib) and no bowsprit.

The one there in the photo is a Carranca, square sails, used by Gil Eanes and Bartolomeu Dias to cross the Good Hope Cape. Also a Portuguese invention.

The reason for using a square sail that needed more crew, was due to the fact that most of the sailing past the good hope to India was done with downwind. Thus the choice of Bartolomeu Dias.

It could very well be a Portuguese replica, or a replica of a boat that the Spanish "copied" from the Portuguese and was used by Comombo.

However, as Colombos boats were all Caravelas, not Carrancas, that can't be one of Colombos boats.

I can tell you this:

That bow structure, arched up bellow the bowsprit, is NOT Portuguese design. To me this is either a Dutch or Swedish vessel from the 1700's, but seems too small. I think its a replica, made for movies...The bow structureis typical Northern Europe. And can be seen in the Vasa. The great big Disaster boat that only sailed 3 feet beckwards and sunk on launch!!!!

I think its a small replica of a Dutch Vessel from the Indies Company.

Portuguese and Spanish Vessels had the Cross Of Christ in the Sails.

pbonta

06-16-2007 02:34 PM

I've been wrong before...

...the flag looks like an old English naval flag with the cross of St. George. predating the UK flag, which added the Scottish diagonal cross of St. Andrew Could it be a replica of one of the Jamestown ships?
FW&FS,
PB

hellosailor

06-16-2007 03:15 PM

I'm voting for something from the early Mass. Bay Colony.

That flag would be referred to as a "red flag with a white canton with a red cross in it" and in searching for that I found a reference that "In 1636 a famous sermon was preached in Salem, Massachusetts by Roger Williams (who was later banished and became the founder of Rhode Island) which stated the cross was a symbol of popery and was therefore the symbol of the antichrist. The Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, John Endicott, fearful for his soul, subsequently ordered the cross removed from the flags used in Massachusetts. "

IOW, the early Mass Bay Colony flag matches the exact one flown on that boat. The red cross in the canton being removed in 1636. The general pattern (red flag with white canton) would be English Navy or early New England derivatives apparently.

I'm not certain but didn't the MBC flag also hve a pine tree in the canton as well?
I thought the English naval ensign of that time was red with the canton being the English white flag with red St. George's cross...
Research is a beautiful thing, no? We'll get to the bottom eventually?

Hellosailor, the flag in your link is the British East India Company's flag, which, as far as I know concerned it's trades to the Asian market, India, China, etc.
I'm voting English naval ensign, but I still have no idea what the ship is... looks like a modern day warship in the background, too...hmmm.